Featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com, is this 1999 Mercedes-Benz SL500.
The Mercedes-Benz SL-class of grand touring cars has been at the forefront of status, luxury, and performance for an impressive 70 years. It first launched in model year 1954 as a street-legal version of the 300SL sports car from 1952. As the SL evolved toward the end of the 20th century, it remained a respected example of automotive engineering.
Finished in Brilliant Emerald Green over tan leather, the SL500 shown here comes with a retractable black soft top as well as a body-color hardtop with a stand. The package deal is being listed by a dealer in Lexington, Kentucky, and the auction will end tomorrow, September 16.
The public’s first glimpse of the R129-chassis SL took place in March 1989 at the Geneva International Motor Show in Switzerland. The SL took a runner-up spot (behind a Citroen XM) for European Car of the Year. From then until the generation’s final model year (2002), there were cosmetic and mechanical updates to keep the car fresh. A facelift in 1996 brought new bumpers, lighting, and safety technology as well as a five-speed automatic transmission to replace the outgoing four.
According to the CARFAX report, today’s featured car has resided in Kentucky since 2002. The window sticker shows that it was originally delivered to Coggin O’Steen Motor Company in Ashland and had an original retail price of $77,060 (over $140,000 in today’s dollars). No wonder the SL was (and is, even today) marketed toward the well-to-do.
Under the hood is an M113 5.0-liter V8 that was rated at 302 horsepower and 339 lb-ft of torque when new. A Mercedes-Benz ad from the period said, “When you’re sitting in the absolute comfort of a Mercedes-Benz SL, and your foot meets the accelerator, and you feel that sudden rush of adrenaline as its 5-liter V8 takes you from standstill to 60 in 6.1 seconds, it suddenly hits you – the world is an altogether perfect place.”
The car’s odometer shows 97,504 miles, which comes out to just 3,900 miles per year over the car’s 25-year lifespan. If you’ve ever considered rewarding yourself with a vehicle that provides both driving enjoyment and status, you’ll be hard-pressed to find something this satisfying.
The auction for this 1999 Mercedes-Benz SL500 ends Monday, September 16, 2024 at 11:30 a.m. (PDT)
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and photo gallery
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